WEST ALABAMA (3-3, 3-1) at #24 WEST GEORGIA (4-2, 1-2)
Oct. 15, 2016 l University Stadium | Carrollton, Ga. | 1 p.m. CDT l ESPN3 l ESPN 104.9
 
THE SERIES
This is the 34th meeting between the Tigers and the Wolves, with UWG holding a 20-13 lead in the series. West Alabama has won six of the last 10 meetings, but UWG has won the last two.
 
WEST ALABAMA
West Alabama is 3-3 overall, 3-1 in the GSC after a 54-42 win over Delta State last week.
 
WEST GEORGIA
No. 24 West Georgia is 4-2 overall, 1-2 in the GSC after losing at Valdosta State last week.
 
THE COACHES
Brett Gilliland is 15-13 in his third season at UWA, his third as a head coach. Will Hall is 28-7 in his third season at UWG, 53-18 in his sixth season as a college head coach.
 
COVERAGE
TV:             ESPN3
Radio:        ESPN 104.9 or www.espn1049.com
Twitter:      @UWAAthletics
 
GRAMMER, BENNETT EARN GSC HONORS
UWA QB Austin Grammer and kicker Jordan Bennett were selected as GSC Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Week for games played in week six of the 2016 season. Grammer ran for three TDs and passed for another in UWA's win over Delta State.  Bennett kicked four field goals in the win over Delta State. His field goals were from 25, 38, 29 and 42 yards. He also kicked off 11 times for 702 yards, an average of 63.8 yards, with four touchbacks.
 
TWO BIG WEEKS FOR GRAMMER
Austin Grammer has accounted for nine touchdowns over the last two games. After throwing for five scores two weeks ago at Shorter, he ran for two and passed for another last week against at home against Delta State. The UWA offense racked up 566 yards against DSU.
 
CROSSOVER PUNTER
Wolves punter Jordan Ikner was an All-GSC punter for West Alabama before playing this season at a graduate transfer at UWG. Ikner is the UWA career leader in yards per punt, averaging 40.6 yards on 124 career punts at West Alabama.
 
UWA CROSSOVER COACHES
Tiger defensive line coach Roberto Pinilla was a defensive lineman and a coach for West Georgia. Pinilla coached defensive linemen at his alma mater on two occasions. He was a graduate assistant at UWG from 1997-98 and a full-time assistant in 1998, 1999 and 2002.  UWA director of football operations Ryne Smith spent a season (2014) at UWG as special teams coach.
 
UWG CROSSOVER COACHES
West Georgia head coach Will Hall served three years as head coach at West Alabama prior to taking the post in Carrollton. He was 25-11 and led the Tigers to a pair of playoff appearances. UWG assistants Sam Gregg and Cody Kennedy also coached at West Alabama, Gregg as the offensive coordinator for three years.
 
PINILLA AS A WOLF PLAYER
UWA DL coach Roberto Pinilla was team captain as a player for the Wolves. Pinilla lettered four seasons and was a three-year starter for West Georgia, helping lead UWG to its first-ever NCAA Division II Playoffs appearance. He finished his playing career as the West Georgia career leader in games started (35) and tackles by a defensive lineman (167).
 
ACTIVE SECONDARY
The West Alabama defensive backfield has been an active bunch the last two games, intercepting eight passes and breaking up 14 more. The Tigers recorded season highs with four picks and nine PBUs against Delta State last week.
 
UNIFORM COMBINATIONS RECORD
Red Jersey, Red Pants: 1-0
White Jersey, Red Pants: 0-1
White Jersey, White Pants: 1-1
Red Jersey, Black Pants: 1-0
Red Jersey, White Pants: 0-1
White Jersey, Black Pants: 0-0
 
TURNOVER MARGIN
West Alabama is tied for ninth in NCAA Division II in turnover margin at 1.5. The Tigers have lost four fumbles and recovered four, but the scales tip with 12 picks by UWA to just three by six opponents.
 
HIGH SCORING LEAGUE
West Alabama is one of six GSC teams averaging at least 31 points per game.  Conversely, West Georgia is second in the GSC in points allowed with just 18.7 per game.
 
STRANGE TIMES
These are strange times we live in when, in a nine-team league, West Alabama and West Georgia are both mid-pack or lower in team offensive categories. UWA is sixth in total offense, UWG seventh. The Tigers and Wolves are fourth and fifth, respectively, in rushing offense. UWA is sixth in passing offense, UWG seventh.
 
ONE OF TWO WITH THREE
West Alabama (3-1) is one of just two Gulf South Conference teams with three conference victories. The other is league-leading North Alabama (3-0). The Tigers are currently second in the GSC standings.
 
TWO OF TOP THREE
This game features two of the top three running backs in the GSC. West Georgia's Lemarcus Franks is second in the league at 84.8 yards per game. UWA's Lakendric Thomas is third at 84.7.
 
DONTA WITH 40
UWA receiver Donta Armstrong's 40 receptions is the second-most in the GSC.
 
ESPN3
Saturday's game marks the third appearance this season on ESPN3. The Tigers are 0-2 on the network with losses at Stephen F. Austin and at home to North Alabama.
 
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GSC - OCTOBER 15
Fort Valley State at Florida Tech, 1 p.m.
Valdosta State at Mississippi College, 3 p.m.
West Florida at Delta State, 4 p.m.
Shorter at North Alabama, 6 p.m.